A Sick Industry

Gloom. Gloom. Gloom. Ahead, rapidly drawing closer, was the spectre of
an unparalleled industrial crisis. On Aug. 1 the coal miners would
strike, unless a last-minute agreement were made. With the striking
miners would be the transport workers and railwaymen, who decided not
to handle any coal once the strike began. Numerous other workers would
surely walk out in sympathy while, owing to a shortage of coal, many
industries would be forced to shut down and discharge their employes.
The Times struck the keynote of pessimism: